Biological cells contain molecular machines that perform complex mechanical tasks such as intracellular transport, chromosome separation and muscle contraction. These processes are driven by biomolecular motors, proteins that convert the chemical energy of ATP directly into mechanical work. Recent advances in understanding how such motor proteins work have raised the possibility that they might find applications as nanomachines. For example, they could be used as molecule-sized robots that work in molecular factories where small, but intricate structures are made on tiny assembly lines, that construct networks of molecular conductors and transistors for use as electrical circuits, or that continually patrol inside “adaptive” materials and repair them when necessary. Thus biomolecular motors could form the basis of bottom-up approaches for constructing, active structuring and maintenance at the nanometer scale.

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